JCI MUA Grad Bree-Anna Lehto | From Prison Break to See, She’s the MUA of the Moment

From Prison Break to A Series of Unfortunate Events to See .  JCI Makeup Artistry Grad Bree-Anna Lehto has worked on some of the most notorious Films & TV Shows in the past five years. 

Since graduating from JCI Institute in 2013, Bree has worked non-stop in what she loves – FX Makeup, which has led her and her team in the Series of Unfortunate Eventsto win a Leo Award and the Hairstylist Guild Award for Best Make-up in Dramatic Series. Today we have had the pleasure to interview her and ask about her experience in the industry, as well as her most recent project with Lindala Schminken FX & Stephen King’s ‘The Stand’. 

Since completing your program, what have you been working on?

I started out doing straight makeup calls, working on gaining as much experience as possible on set for my IATSE days.  I knew I really wanted to focus on FX makeup and started work on Wayward Pines, Legion, Supergirl, Prison Break (doing Wentworth Millers tattoos), two seasons of A Series of Unfortunate Events (transforming Neil Patrick Harris into Count Olaf and his many disguises) and most recently just wrapped 7 months of FX makeup, shooting the epic new AppleTV+ streaming network show ‘SEE’.  When not on a show call I love to travel, enjoy time off, and pop out on day calls for any of the many film & TV shows being filmed in Vancouver.

What have been some of your favourite jobs and or people to work with?  

Prison Break was my first FX makeup show call so that one will always be a fond memory.  Neil was a pleasure to work with everyday on ASOUE, and the whole cast & crew were amazing, as were the sets, makeup, hair and costumes so going to work everyday was fun!  SEE was an incredible experience – I was able to do some new and interesting makeup applications, we shot the show primarily outside in some amazing locations, and I feel like I learned a lot, which I love!  I’ve been lucky enough to work with a lot of fantastic cast and crew, on great projects, which makes going to work every day easy. 

How would you say your makeup education has helped you prepare for the work you are doing now?  

I loved my time at JCI!  JCI taught me the necessary fundamentals of both makeup and MUFX, and my instructors were amazing – their personal experiences, on set stories and recommendations were helpful and insightful, and got me really excited to get into Film & TV.  I gave 100% in class everyday and when I finished school I had a professional portfolio I was proud to use, as well as two IMATS first place wins under my belt.  You have to do the work, and if you give it your all JCI will give you the knowledge, tools and opportunities to hit the ground running in this industry.

Bree is currently working on a new show with Lindala Schminken FX, Stephen King’s ‘The Stand’, tell us a bit more about that!

I am super excited as it has lots of really great makeups, and I’ll be working on Whoopi Goldberg’s makeup transformation! She talked about it a couple of times on The View recently, we recently went to New Jersey to do her makeup test. Click Here to Learn about the Project on The View